I bought two different stainless steel rods at my LHS a good two weeks back and they've significantly helped me in achieving very smooth curves. I've tried using wooden dowels, but the results with stainless steel succeed that of the dowels.

However, the stainless steel seems, for lack of a better word, dirty. I believe it's a coating around it, perhaps grease (?), but I've noticed that a rather sludgy, graphite colored residue smudging the paper and any substance that comes in contact with the rods.

I'm taking a metals class this year, and I remember when I used wire to make a project, it was covered in a substance similar to the rods I purchased. I used a steel wool patch to clean the wires.

So I guess what I'm asking is, is it advisable to use steel wool to clean stainless steel rods? Moreso, what is the correct method of cleaning stainless steel rods? I've tried leaving them in a basin of lukewarm + detergent for a day, and I've yet to see improvements. I've tried using successively higher grits of sandpaper, and it seems to be working, though, only at a really slow pace.

You might try using a degreaser. There used to be a brand called Oileater that worked great. When I worked in a fast food restaurant, we had acres of stainless steel (counters, grill and fryer flues, fridge and freezer doors, etc), and whenever we used degreaser on them, we had to reapply a stainless steel polish to get the shine back.

__________________
“You don’t act like a scientist. You’re more like a game show host.”
"Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance."Murph's Models

Think Dan's hit the nail on the head - we use white vinegar to wipe down our stainless steel benches and they come up looking great, cuts through any grime or residue...aroma is quite good for clearing the sinuses too...

__________________Please critique my posts honestly i.e. say what you think so I can learn and improve...The World According to Me